Improvement in folding cradles or cribs



M. MCNAMARA.

Folding Cradles or Cribs.

Patented 1an. 21,1873.

"(7 my m FF- l l I l 7^ m MAL-Mm @ummm AM PHarHnnosnAfH/c ca Mossen/Els Panam) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL MCNAMARA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT INFOLDING CRADLES OR CRIBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 135,138, dated January 21, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, MICHAEL MCNAMARA, of Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Cradle or Crib, of which the following is a specification Figure 1 is a detail vertical longitudinal section of my improved folding cradle. Fig. 2 is a detail vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top View of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspending parts.

My invention has for its object to furnish an improved cradle or crib, which shall be so constructed that it may be very compactly parts being constructed and arranged in connection with each other as hereinafter fully described; and in the combination of a cloth or netting and supporting-rods with the frame-work of a cradle or crib, as hereinafter fully described, to form a hammock or summer bed.

A represents the head-board, and B the foot-board, to the ends of which are permanently attached the posts C. D are the rockers, which, when used, are attached to the lower ends of the posts C at the head and foot ends of the cradle. 'E are the side boards of the cradle or crib, which are each made in four sections. The outer ends of the end sections are each hinged to a post, C, so that all of said end sections may fold inward, the head sections against the inner side of the head-board A and in line with each other, and the foot sections against the inner side of the foot-board B and in line with each other. The inner ends of the two middle sections upon each side of the cradle or crib are hinged to each other at their inner edges, so that their inner sides may fold together. The outer ends of the said middle sections are hinged to the inner ends of the end sections, so that the outer sides of the said middle sections may fold against the outer sides of the end sections. F is the Slat or rack bottom of the cradle or crib, which is made in two parts, and which rests upon rabbets formed in or upon cleats or pins attached to the end and side boards of the cradle or crib. The outer ends of the parts of the bottom are designed to be hinged to the end boards A B, so that they may be turned up or folded against the said end boards. By leaving a narrow space between the adjacent edges of the parts of the bottom F, the saids parts may be made so short that when turned up their upper edges will not project above the top of the said end boards A B. The various parts of the cradle or crib, when opened out for use, are secured in place by hooks, bolts, or other suitable fastenings connecting the middle sections to the bottom or rack F. G is a piece of cloth or netting, the ends of which are detachably connected with the upper parts of the end boards A B to form a summer bed or hammock to allow the air to circulate freely around the child.

The following I esteem the best mode of connecting the cloth or netting G with the end boards A B: With each end of the cloth or netting G is connected a rod, H, by passing it through a hem in said end, or by other convenient means. The ends ofthe rod H, at the foot end or at both ends of the cradle or crib, are inserted in sockets in the upper parts of the posts C, the upper side of one or both of said sockets being made open, so that the rod can be readily attached and detached. At the head end, or at both ends of the cradle or crib, when the upper parts of the end boards project, the cloth or netting G may pass through a slot in said end board, and the rod H may be inserted in eyes or sockets attached to the upper parts of the posts O.

The cradle or crib is made wider at the top than at the bottom, so that when folded there will be an open space between the folds or sections of the side boards, into which the bedding may be packed. By this construe 5 mme@ nection with each other, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the cloth or netting G and rods H With the frame-Work of a cradle or crib, substantially as herein shown and described, to form a hammock or summer bed, as and for the purpose set forth.

MICHAEL MONAMARA.

Witnesses:

FRANK MARTIN, GEO. L. BROWN. 

